Bill divider and key container for billfolds



Jan. 27, 1948. c. M 'cAMPBELL BILL DIIDER AND KEY CONTAINER FO-R BILLFOLDS Filed Jan. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l CAPA M CAMPBEZL Jan. 27, 1948. Q M, CAMPBELL 2,435,032

BILL DIVIDER AND KEY CONTAINER FOR BILLFOLDS Filed Jan. 16, 1945 2 `Shees-Sheet 2 CARL M CAMPBELL 5mm/Mag Patented -Jan. 27, 1948 BELL DIVIDER AND KEY CONTAINER FR BILLFOLDS Carl M. Campbell, Hagerstown, Md., assignor to Hagerstown Leather Company, Hagerstown, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application .anuary 16, 1945, Serial No. 573,007 1 Claim. (Cl. 150-36) This invention relates generally to pocket receptacles and more particularly to Wallets or bill- OldS; l

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved wallet or billfold having combined therewith a novel key carrier and more specifically a novel combination bill divider and key carrier located in the currency pocket of the wallet, whereby means are provided for conveniently carrying keys and also for eiectively keeplng bills of different denominations separated in the currency pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a wallet or billfold the combination with a combined bill divider and secret pocket, of a divider ap in the currency compartment having attached to the outer edge thereof a key carrier which hangs down in the currency compartment and which is designed to lie across one side of the secret pocket opposite from the flap, to maintain such secret pocket against accidental displacement from the currency pocket.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a Wallet or billfold, a novel key carrying ap or tongue secured to the top edge of the inner wall of the currency compartment, to be suspended therefrom between the two halves of the wallet when the same is closed or folded.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bill divider designed to be secured within the currency compartment or pocket of a billfold and having a tongue out therefrom and folded on itself to provide a single key carrier, such key lying in the plane of the ap between the pieces of currency divided by the nap.

Still another object of the `invention is to provide in a billfold or wallet, a pair of currency divider flaps each secured at its lower or bottom edge in the bottom of the currency pocket and each having secured to its top edge a tongue member designed to hang into the pocket and lie across a removable secret pocket forming bill divider which is disposed longitudinally in the currency pocket', to prevent such secret pocket forming bill divider from accidentally escaping from the currency pocket.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specication, with the understanding, however, that the invention is'not'conned to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modied so'long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a billfold showing the present invention incorporated there- 1n.

Figure 2 is a section on the line '2-2 of Fig-` ure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective showing the secret pocket forming envelope partially removed from the currency pocket and showing the relation of the currency divider and key container thereto.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the linev lof Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a View in perspective of one modlcation of the currency divider and key carrier.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of a second' modification of the currency divider and key container.

Figure 'l is a sectional View on the line 1--1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of a third modification of the currency divider and key container.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings there is illustrated in Figure 1, a billfold or wallet constructed in accordance with the present 'rency compartment Wall I2 of slightly less height than the outer or back wall Il, as here illustrated, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to use in a wallet or billfold'having walls arranged in this manner as it 'will be readily obvious that the walls may be of the same height as in a great many articles of this character. y

Upon the inner side of the inner wall I2 of the currency compartment may be located any ofthe customary auxiliary vparts or units commonly found in billfoldsor wallets for carrying identication cards, passes or the like as at I4 or for' carrying small articles or coins as at I5. 'Ihel present invention is not limited in any way with 'regard tothe character of these auxiliary parts These walls are 3 with the exception that the change pocket I5 is to be of a. depth materially less than the length of the half of the wallet to' which it is attached so that suitable space is provided at the inner end of the change pocket, between such end and the center line of fold for the wallet, which is desighated I6, for the location of va single lkey container which is generally designated. and which extends transversely ofthe wallet body.

In the construction here illustrated there is. shown interposed between the change ,pocket and the wall I2 and between the key container .and such wall I2, a Wall of material which is designated I8 and which is of the same width/as the wall I2 and of a length slightly less than halfthe length of the billfold. This wall I8 is secured along two longitudinal edges and across the =end of the adjacent section of the billfold, to form a card pocket I9. However, it is to be understood that in carrying out the present invention this pocket :forming wall I8 :may he eliminated if :desired so that the key container ,I'I and the .coin pocket I5 will co-act directly with dihemnerwall I2 @of the currency pocket.

:Itwill be lreadily seen that the card pocket wall I8 as here illustrated, forms the inner wall for the coin :pocket .I5 :but it will :be ialsofunders'tood'that if the card pocket is not employed then the Wal] I.2 will form the coin :pocket wall aswell 'as .the inner wall for 'the currency pocket.

AThe key container` I'l comprises 4a Vrelatively narrow strip or band of leather, the width .of which is only slightly greater than the greatest widthof the top or head `of `a key. This strip `or band of leather is designated 2D .and ;it has a pocket forming inner wall 2|, stitched thereto, which .may .form `a turned :back ,portion of the band or :a separate piece. The Iopposite :end of the. strip of leather 32D 'is secured by suitable stitching, to the top edge of the currency :pocket inner wall Il2, A-in such a way that the mout-h 22 `of the key container pocket will lie against the Iadjacent -wall I8, when such pocket is in normal position transversely of the Wallet. IIt will be understood also that the full length of the key container I'I will not be rgreater' than the width of thewaillet wall to which it `is attached so that when 'the waliet is folded in the customary lInanner no part of the key container Vwill 'be exposed.

`Within the currency pocket 'i0 there 'is tted the removable combined secret pocket and currency ldivider 2S. This unit 'is in the .form `of a relatively'long envlopehaving an over-all width only slightly greater than the Aheight ofthe inner wall I2 of the currency pocket whileits'lengthis, of `course, Vless than the `inside ,lengthof the currency pocket .in which .it is designed to position. This envelope is .closed along .its two ends and along onelong-itudinal side, the Afull length ofthe opposite .longitudinal :side being-open asindicated at 24 .so that folded .hills .or other papersmay .be placed .therein and the pocket 23:is placed `inthe currency pocket fIIl, with the yopen .edge :or .mouth 24-towardthe bottom of the currency pocket. In addition to providing `fa :secret container, the 'envelope 23 may be employed for separatingrbillssof diflerent denominations. Y

:Secured ywithin the .currency pocket are .ontJ for two,lor.more,.frelatively wide flaps 25. y,'lhesemay belocated, one adjacent to-each endfo'fthewallet, as shown, or in any other suitable positions and in .any number inthe pocket, and arefsecuredat their .innerredges by the .stitching which secures together ,the longitudinal edges iof'ttheinneriand 4 outer walls II and I2 respectively of the currency pocket.

Each of the aps 25 is of suclent length to project slightly above the top edge of the inner wall I2 of the currency pocket but not above the top edge of the outer Wall.

Secured to `the 'top edge of each ,ap 25 is a narrower piece of .material in the form of a short strap 2B and a corresponding piece of such material is secured to one side face thereof as indicated at 21 and extends from the free end of the .strap 26 a short distance inwardly to form a key pocket or container 28.

The ,strap '26 .is designed to hang down 1n the currency :pocket I'Il and the material 21 is secured to that face `of the strap 26 which is in opposed relation with .the flap 25. Thus it will be seen that when the strap 25 is in normal position in the currency pocket the mouth of the key container will be covered or hidden when the currencypocket is open.

'The widthor height of the secret pocket envies lope 23 is slightly less than the distance from the stitched edge o the strap 26 to the bottom of the currencypocket. When the parts are in properly assembled relation the secret pocket forming envelope :23 `lies in the currency pocket I0 between the pair of aps 25 and the straps 2,6 carried thereby. .Thus lit will be readily seen that these straps 2.6 not only function as a -means for `carrying a single key as shown but they also .serve as retaining means for the secret pocket 4forming envelope as suchsenvelope-.cannot ,be taken out of the dcurrency fpoc-ket Without first withdrawing may be laid 'together and :stitched around :the

edges to .iormfthe desired pocket.

In each-.ofliligures 5,16 and zxthereisshowna monili-ed ,form of Ythe flap .25 vwhich may tbe 'employed -in the'same position as 'the ,nap 2-5 :previously described. -While one only of each ofzthese modified :forms -of fiiaps is illustrated, it 4is tobe understood Vthat they imay be :used iin pairs lin the billfold, as the naps .2,5 are :show-n, for .in ,any number.

In the rst modica-tion of the vnap construction, shown iin Figure 5, the :pi-ece of material forming Ythe flap. preferably .leather 'or zlea'ther simulating material, `is ldesignated.215', This :han hasfstitched 4t-o the top edge-thereofgthe strap 2B and fa .portion 4of :the :free end of :such `strap ris turned back as indicated ;at 2'I'1t1o #form zhe key pocket :vor container 28'. The :bottom lof this pocket :or container -lis provided 'with :a shit :29

so that fthe .shank portion of 'the key .can ,spass therethroughin the mannerdllustrated, fthe head of .thelkey 4being'retainedin the pocket.

.Means iis provided for 'securing the "key con tainer strap 26' in inturnedpcsition'wjthin 4the billfold currency pocket, 'in ythe l:form .of a 'short hand e30 nwhich is vstitched 4.to the vside v1of .the iflap 25 :against which Athe `strap f26" ,positions,.at the inner :or 'bottom edge of the jflap. 'This'fband of material, being :secured-.only lalong `those opposite edges which :are tpara'llel :with Vthe 'long `edges .of the ila-p 25', @forms :with :the .flap, a loop under tion within the currency pocket. It will, of course, be understood that the key carrying strap 26in this modified construction would not be intended to assist in maintaining the secret pocket forming envelope 23 in position.

In the second modified form of the flap shown in Figure 6, the piece of material forming the body lof the flap is designated 25". To the top edge of this piece of material is secured an end of a strap 26 and, as in the case of the strap 20', a portion of the other end is turned back upon itself as indicated at 2l" to form a pocket 28" into which may be inserted the key 3 l. The lower edge of this pocket is open or slit as indicated at 29' so that the shank of the key may extend .from the lower part of the pocket. In this modified construction the key carrier strap 26 is held in position by providing the flap 25" with a slot 32, adjacent to the inner or secured end edge of the flap. The extended or shank portion of the key 3l is inserted through this slot 32 so that the key container will be held in position In the third modification of the flap, shown in Figure 8, the piece of material forming the ap is generally designated 25". The key container carried by this flap is not formed from a separate piece of material secured to the flap but is formed directly from the material of the flap itself. As shown the material of the nap is cut along the spaced parallel lines 33 from a point adjacent to the top edge of the flap to points adjacent to the lower or secured bottom edge thereof and the material is then cut transversely of the flap between the lines 33, along the line 34. This produces a strap-like tongue 35 which has a portion of the free end bent back upon itself as indicated at 36 and such bent back portion is stitched only along the side edges and is left unattached across its free end thus forming the pocket 28" into which the head portion of a key is located. The lower part or edge of the pocket is cut or slit as indicated at 29" so that the shank of the key may extend therethrough but the head of the key cannot escape. Thus it will be seen that when a key is placed in the key container of this flap 25 the shank portion of the key will hang down in the open space 31 formed in cutting out the piece 35, and will lie in the plane of the flap.

It will be understood that in each of the cases where reference has been made to turning back a portion of a strap and iitting such portion to the main body portion along opposite longitudinal edges to form a pocket or container, it is intended that the invention also cover the application of a separate piece of material to a strap to form such a pocket and that there is no intention of limiting the invention to the specic feature of turning back a portion of a piece of the material for the formation of a key pocket or any other pocket. In addition to providing a novel means of retaining the secret pocket forming envelope 23 in position in the currency pocket, the combination of ap 25 and a key container may function as a bill divider as it will be readily apparent that bills of one denomination may be placed upon one side of the iiaps 25 between the same and the inner wall I2 while bills of another denomination may be inserted between the flaps E5 and the secret pocket forming envelope 23. When the bills are disposed between the flaps 25 and the envelope 23 it will be readily apparent that they will be safely retained in position by the key container strap 26, like the envelope 23.

In the modied forms of flaps, such flaps and key carriers serve only the two functions of pro viding means for carrying keys and dividing bills of two denominations in the currency pocket since, due to the fact that the keys in the key containers are, in two of the modified forms, attached to the flap, such key containers cannot function to retain the secret pocket forming envelope 23 in. place.

In the third modication shown in Figure 8, the key and key carrier might be employed in the same capacity as the key carrier` 26 to function both as a bill retainer and as a retaining means for the envelope 23 by securing the bottom edge of the flap 25" to the bottom of the billfold and hanging the key carrying tongue over the envelope on the opposite sid-e from the flap.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there is provided in the present invention a novel billfold construction combining means for safely carrying single keys of the type used for actuating tumbler locks, a means for dividing a number of bills in separate groups in the currency compartment of a billfold, and means for securing in position in a currency pooket of a billfold, a combined bill divider and secret pocket forming envelope, such as .that illustrated and describ-ed.

I claim:

The combination in a billfold having a currency pocket, of a pair of relatively wide aps, each secured along one edge in the bottom of the pocket and adjacent to an end thereof, each of said flaps extending substantially the full depth of the pocket, a relatively long bill divider designed to be disposed longitudinally in said pocket and having the form of an envelope open along one longitudinal edge, said envelope being disposed in the pocket with the open edge thereof directed toward the bottom of the pocket to form a secret pocket, and a strap-like member secured at the outer edge of each flap and designed to extend into the currency pocket across said envelope to maintain the envelope in position in the currency pocket.

CARL M. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,471,484 Humphreys Oct. 23, 1923 2,172,883 Wege Sept. 12, 1939 2,182,867 Gardner Dec. 12, 1939 2,306,001 Struhl Dec. 22, 1942 

